Feasibility of using low density polyethylene sheets to detect atmospheric organochlorine pesticides in Alexandria, Egypt

Mohammed A Khairy,Rainer Lohmann

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.06.031

Mohammed A Khairy, Rainer Lohmann

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.06.031

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Abstract

Egypt is a major agricultural country in Africa with a known past of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) application, yet data on atmospheric levels of OCPs in Egypt is sparse. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers were therefore deployed for 3 weeks each at 11 locations in July, 2010 and January, 2011 in Alexandria to screen for gas-phase OCPs. Performance reference compounds were used to investigate the uptake kinetics. Field-derived sampler-air partitioning coefficients (KPE-As) for OCPs were significantly correlated against the compounds' subcooled liquid vapor pressure (log PL): [log KPE-A = −0.77 ± 0.07*log PL + 6.35 ± 0.13 (R2 = 0.90; n = 17; SE = 0.19; p < 0.001)]. Estimated and measured OCP concentrations in Alexandria agreed well (factor difference ≤ 2) indicating the feasibility of monitoring OCPs using LDPEs. OCP concentrations ranged from <LOD to 168 pg/m3. Calculated isomeric ratios indicated recent usage of chlordanes and endosulfans.

Highlights

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are a group of organic pollutants with highIn some developing countries, several OCPs are still in use (Baek et al, 2013).Pesticides were introduced in Egypt in 1952 and about one million metric tons of commercial pesticides were used until 2003 (Mansour, 2004)
Our results indicated the feasibility of using Low density polyethylene (LDPE) as a practical and low-cost technique for monitoring OCPs in Egypt, and to provide data on the spatial distribution and seasonal variations of OCPs in an urban Egyptian city
Including performance reference compounds (PRCs) enables the use of PE sheets as passive air samplers for gas-phase OCPs in general

Summary

Introduction

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are a group of organic pollutants with highIn some developing countries, several OCPs are still in use (Baek et al, 2013).Pesticides were introduced in Egypt in 1952 and about one million metric tons of commercial pesticides were used until 2003 (Mansour, 2004). Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are a group of organic pollutants with high. Several OCPs are still in use (Baek et al, 2013). Pesticides were introduced in Egypt in 1952 and about one million metric tons of commercial pesticides were used until 2003 (Mansour, 2004). Illegal pesticides application cannot be ignored due to the poor enforcement of environmental laws. In Egypt, 70 % of the pesticides are applied on cotton crops, while the rest are applied on corn, rice, sugarcane plantations, vegetables and fruits (Mansour, 2004). DDT, lindane and endrin were among the pesticides used to control cotton pests. The use of DDT in agriculture was officially banned. Following the restriction on DDT, the use of other organochlorine pesticides (e.g., aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, lindane) was gradually restricted in Egypt

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